Flames 3, Mighty Ducks 0

Associated Press

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) - Ten days from the start of the NHL playoffs, Miikka Kiprusoff is flashing the same form in goal he displayed two years ago when he led the Calgary Flames to the Stanley Cup final.

Kiprusoff made 32 saves for his NHL-leading ninth shutout of the season and the Flames beat Anaheim 3-0 on Tuesday night to reach 100 points for the time since 1990-91 and move a step closer to their first division title since 1994-95.

"Kipper, he's played like that all year. He's been amazing," said Flames captain Jarome Iginla, who had two assists. "Especially early tonight, they had some chances and he made some timely saves."

Kiprusoff was at his best in the second period when he stopped 13 shots as Calgary clung to a 1-0 lead. Six of the shots came in a torrid 90-second span when the Ducks exhibited a dangerous power play. The best of the stops was an acrobatic blocker save off Joffrey Lupul's shot from the slot.

"Whenever you get shut out, there's always more you could have done," Lupul said. "However, although we did have some great chances that we didn't convert, you have to tip your hat your hat to Kiprusoff, he played well."

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle says Kiprusoff is a reflection of the entire Flames' team. "He has a workmanlike attitude as every member of their hockey club does. You have to credit them with their work ethic," Carlyle said.

Calgary scored 5 seconds into the third period, the fastest goal at the start of a period in team history and a second off the NHL record set by Claude Provost with Montreal in 1957 and matched by Denis Savard for Chicago in 1986.

Off the drop of the puck, Daymond Langkow slid a pass over to Iginla, and darted to the net. Iginla passed it right back and Langkow lifted a backhander over goalie Ilya Bryzgalov's glove.

"We didn't have a lot of time on the power-play so we didn't want to take it back and take our time, we wanted to get it in there," Langkow said. "We talked about it before the draw, just to go ahead with it. We ended up getting control of it right away and I moved it over to Iggy and he came back to me and we got a goal out of it."

With the same line on the ice, Calgary opened up a 3-0 lead just 32 seconds later when Langkow and Iginla combined to set up Kristian Huselius for his 20th goal.

Chris Simon also scored for Calgary.

The Flames, 6-0-2 in their last eight, will try to clinch the Northwest Division title Thursday night when they face Colorado in the home finale.

Calgary leads the Avalanche by six points, with each team having three games remaining. The only way Colorado can catch the Flames is if they win their final three games while the Flames lose their final three games in regulation.

Notes: The Flames' previous record for fastest goal at the start of the period was 7 seconds, set in 1982 .... Calgary D Rhett Warrener (knee) and LW Mike Leclerc (wrist) returning to the lineup. ... Anaheim LW Jeff Friesen was a healthy scratch. Since being acquired from the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline, Friesen has one goal and two assists in 15 games.